Twenty-one stages and a prize pool that exceeds 1.5 million euros. The Dane who has won the Tour de France twice must beware of the young man from the Marche region
Three days in Bulgaria and then the Tour of Italythe most identifying event of our country, will start from Catanzaro to go up the country. And it will make the millions of fans happy who will take to the streets and climb the mountains to follow the stages and watch their favorites up close, even for just a moment. Popular passion has accompanied the Giro d’Italia since its first edition, now there have been 109 in 117 years, with some editions lost due to wars. The first was Luigi Ganna in 1919, the last was the English Simone Yates who won with a surprise ending. Inside are the five victories of Bindathe first of War in 1931 and then the epic Coppi-Bartali until Merckx, Hinault, Indurain and Pantani. The Dane Jonas Vingegaard he is the big favorite of this edition, he has already won the 2022 and 2023 tours, last year he won the Vuelta and this year the Paris-Nice. The blue hope is the Marche region Giulio Pellizzari, 22 years old. Sixth at the Giro d’Italia 2025, third this year at Tirreno-Adriatico and winner of the Tour of the Alps.
The party in Bulgaria
In Bulgaria they transformed the start of the Giro d’Italia into a huge media and popular event. The country wants to show itself to Europe, make itself known and bring the new generations closer to cycling, a huge operation of tourist and cultural valorisation. But also an economic and industrial showcase given that half a million bicycles are built a year in Plovdiv (a figure that has more than doubled in recent years). The Bulgarian government has made an important investment to bring the Giro d’Italia to Bulgaria, we are talking about thirty million euros of which at least ten for the improvement of the roads. It will be the sixteenth time that the Giro starts outside Italy.
The prizes
Twenty-one stages, many decisive, and a prize pool that exceeds 1.5 million euros. The winner, with his team and staff, will take home an amount greater than 265 thousand euros. The total prize pool of Giro 2026 surpasses 1.5 million euros. Whoever wins the general classification will receive the largest share: 265,668 euros between basic prize and special bonus. Runners from second to twentieth place will receive progressively smaller, but still significant prizes: the runner-up will take home approximately 133,400 eurosthe third just below i 69 thousand euros. Overall, for the general classification, they are expected 592,670 euros in prizes. The Tour it doesn’t just reward the final result. Each stage gives an immediate prize to the winner, which is worth it 11,010 euros. Even those who come second and third take home important sums: respectively 5,508 And 2,753 euros. The prizes extend up to the twentieth place of each stage, so as to recognize the effort of many athletes. In addition, the leader of the general classification will receive a bonus of 2,000 euros for each stage in which he will wear the pink jersey, to underline the prestige of whoever leads the race. Special jerseys bring additional rewards. There Cyclamen shirtfor the best sprinter, awards 750 euros per day and a final prize of 10,000 euros to the winner. There Blue shirtdedicated to the best climber, guarantees 750 euros per day for those who lead the classification of the Mountain Grand Prix and up to 5,000 euros at the end of the Giro. There White shirt for the best young person it offers similar incentives, both daily and final. Then there are rewards for intermediate sprints, ranging from 500 to 100 eurosand awards for the most combative runner and the one with the most kilometers in the breakaway.
